Create your own handcrafted willow lantern in this practical making workshop, where you’ll learn traditional willow construction techniques to design a unique lantern for your home or garden.

Discover how to prepare and shape willow before building a strong three-dimensional framework using simple weaving and construction methods suitable for beginners.

Once your structure is complete, you’ll cover and decorate your lantern with colourful tissue paper, transforming it into a beautiful illuminated piece ready for autumn and winter celebrations such as Halloween, Diwali, Christmas, or simply to brighten your home throughout the season.

Work in a relaxed, supportive environment where you’ll be guided through each stage of the making process while developing confidence in working with natural materials.

You’ll leave with your own handmade willow lantern, along with the skills and knowledge to continue creating lanterns at home.

Basic materials are provided. Food and drink is also available to purchase throughout the session from our cafés.

This workshop is suitable for beginners and is aimed for families and adults.

What is willow weaving?

Willow weaving is a traditional craft that uses flexible willow rods to create strong, lightweight structures by bending, shaping, and binding the material together.

Used for centuries to make baskets, sculptures, and decorative objects, willow is an accessible and sustainable material that can be transformed into both practical and artistic creations.

In this workshop, you’ll use simple construction techniques to build a three-dimensional lantern frame before finishing it with colourful tissue paper.

About your tutor

Katie Kennedy is a designer and workshop artist specialising in art, design, architecture and printing workshops and projects at museums, galleries, schools and festivals around Essex, London and beyond alongside running her own design business. Find out more at katiekennedy.co.uk or @katiekennedydesign.